Sense of Self
Our trust in the child is at the center of our community’s culture and our core academic program. We support autonomy, self-knowledge, and intrinsic motivation as foundational to flourishing in life.
We see every child as a naturally innovative, resourceful, and whole person. Children come to us innately prepared to be creative, curious, lifelong learners.
From a very young age, Attic learners are given freedom to self-advocate, to make decisions, and to have a voice in the community and in their own education. Out of this autonomy, a strong sense of self develops. Attic kids see themselves as learners! They are readers, writers, problem-solvers, mathematicians, scientists, and artists. They are community builders and friends. They are responsible for themselves and their futures.
We nurture this sense of self-confidence and agency by stressing collaboration over competition and by encouraging intrinsic motivation to learn without external rewards and punishment. We do not grade, and we do not test. Our teens leave The Attic having retained their innate childhood sense of self-confidence, curiosity, and creativity, prepared to launch into adult life as passionate and self-determined individuals.
